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Great project! This may exceed the N600 project as my favorite on this site.

Thank you b-t I have this vision in my head of what this wee car will end up being, and if I'm able to build it as I'm imagining it, I think it will end up being an absolute hoot

These last few months have been a little nutty at our house (you know how it is- there's always something ..), so now this build log is almost 3 months behind.. The reality is I'm not yet as active on the Berkeley as I'd like to be as I'm still doing a fair bit of work on the Volvo P1800.. Over the next several weeks and months, I'll have less and less to do on the Volvo, which will free me up to make real progress on this build, something I'm looking forward to 'solving the puzzle' on

....So back in June I pulled off of the 1800 build for a few days to perform the magic trick you see in the pics; I call it "The Mysterious Disappearing Motorcycle".. pretty clever, huh?!

--ccrunner

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My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

More pics of less..

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My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

Dude! I think Johnny Cash is stealing your motorcycle... "One Piece at a Time"!!!

JD

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Gonzo you are dating yourself. That is a REAL old song!!!!!!!!!!!

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

Cute young female geologist asked if she could "date" me... I was excited until I found out she meant with Carbon-14...

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Well, at least she wasn't a tree surgeon

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Who knew so much time involved in building a car is spent simply staring at the pile of parts you've accumulated?

Hi "ccrunner" - I really love this log... I've renovated several houses in the past, all of them twice the age of your car, but I wouldn't have a clue as to where to start on a build such as this - I really admire your dedication.
I remember being fond of Berkeleys in the 60s but tended to think them somewhat fragile. Now I've seen what's under the bodywork (or rather, what isn't...) I'm not surprised - just horrified... lol.
Looking forward to seeing more, when your time allows.
Good luck - MangPong.

Hey MangPong.. thanks for chiming in.. gotcha on the 'where to start' thought.. It's only because I had some success on my last build that I now have the confidence (ignorance? ) to just jump in and naively believe I'll be able to overcome the unknown.. Members on this board have saved my arse more than a few times when I've gotten myself stuck

About the Berkeley.. I find this marque fascinating.. a time and a place and a need resulted in this truly unique, fragile little design.. I think the story behind this little car is so interesting..

July 2018-

I saw a posting on Bring a Trailer that the Malamut museum in SoCal had extended and invite, I thought I'd head down and soak it up.. great museum, and I was really impressed with the generous hosts.. so cool of them to have the car clubs into their private museum.. Lots and lots of varied cars, but of course I gravitated toward the microcars.. hey, they even had a Berkeley! So that's what my car is supposed to look like

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

July 2018..

This summer I bounced between the Volvo and the Berk.. This allowed me to place the VFR motor into the Berk Punt to learn where it needs to live, which is the first step in learning how I'll configure the front of the Berk's frame and suspension, as well as finally learn how far the VFR motor wants to stick up out of the Berk hood, which is a big concern for me, as this engine is simply too tall for this application (oh let's face it, almost any engine is too tall for this tiny car )...

The square drawn onto the punt near the two sharpies is what I need to cut out of the floor to allow the VFR oil pan to hang down about 1.5-ish inches...

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

The next 10 pics are just wideshots of the engine in place on the punt...

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

last 5 of this..

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

A big mechanical milestone is represented in these pics; Will it Fit? You never really know until you try (I don't care what the tape measure says, as sometimes my tape measure lies to me ).. Technically no, it doesn't 'fit.' but realistically, yes- it does!! This is the first time I loosely set the body down onto the engine, and while it needs trimming here and there, I'm now convinced that this V4 configuration will in fact work for my needs..

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

A few more of the front clip over the engine.. Surely I've still got some big hurdles ahead, but I feel much, much better seeing these bits come together.. My biggest concerns now are shoving this engine into the firewall as far as I realistically can to allow for room for the Miata steering rack to live out in front of the clutch case cover.. again, it will be very tight.. Also, the upcoming pics will show to what degree the airbox and hood need to be massaged to learn to live with each other.. but all in all, this WILL work! (eventually )

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"

Before I even try to put the airbox on, I know I have to trim a 'vent' section up under the hood.. in OEM configuration, this vent was meant to draw air over the stock engine and out of the engine bay... there's simply no room to keep it as that's where my stock Honda airbox base must live (red square in pic).. No big decisions to make here; the stock Berkeley underhood vent must go..

--ccrunner

_________________
My '72 Honda N600 build log (bike engine in a microcar)...
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop ... 36&t=14452

My '63 Volvo 1800 with a turbo inline 4 build log (LNF Ecotec compliments a Svelte Swede)
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

My '59 Berkeley SE492 / Honda VFR800 transplant build: "A Berkeley With Bite!"